Condos planned for Montrose site – UPDATED

A developer planning an 8-story condominium building on what longtime Houstonians may remember as the River Cafe site on Montrose requested a variance from the city so it can build the structure closer to the street.

This is at least the third such request made this week from a developer planning a large-scale residential project in the area. Read about the first here and the second here.

The Montrose project is proposed for the northeast corner of Montrose and Marshall across from the Parc IV & V condominium towers. The developer is listed as Montrose & Marshall LLC on the variance, which apparently isn’t the first that’s been submitted to the city for the project.

The developer is asking for a 10-foot building line instead of the required 25-foot line along Montrose. It said the project would have balconies overlooking Montrose and that it would preserve a large oak tree on Montrose.

The request will be considered Thursday at the meeting of the city’s planning commission.

UPDATE: The Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie architect involved in the project provided the above rendering along with a press release from developer Michael Carroll of Riverway Properties:

“3615 Montrose signals the return of great architecture to one of Houston’s most celebrated neighborhoods,” Carroll said. “This project reflects a singular vision: to reconnect Montrose to its classic modernist roots and offer buyers a new standard in luxury urban living.”

Located within walking distance of the University of St. Thomas—whose master plan was one of Philip Johnson’s earliest Houston commissions—3615 Montrose is a boutique condominium building. Its undulating curves, formed by floor-to-ceiling glass, bring an abundance of light into the space and take advantage of the site’s spectacular views.

“The sophisticated simplicity of the interior spaces is inspired by Philip Johnson’s famed Glass House, one of the most significant structures of 20th century architecture,” noted Carroll. “The building has an expressive sculptural form that reflects the rich cultural heritage of this vibrant neighborhood.”

With residential square-footage totaling just under 100,000 square feet, the eight-story 3615 Montrose will total 34 units. The building’s top floor will feature four penthouse units with views of downtown, the Medical Center, University of St. Thomas and the Allen Parkway/Buffalo Bayou area.

To connect the project to one of Houston’s great, walkable boulevards, the project will feature a pedestrian-friendly landscape plan developed by Kudela & Weinheimer Landscape Architecture in collaboration with Johnson/Ritchie.